How to start a business in Dubai mainland?

For the last three decades, the UAE has undergone a huge business transformation and industrial revolution. Especially, the city of Dubai has become one of the most successful and prosperous cities of the world from a local trading community. Starting a business in Dubai mainland is very beneficial.

Establishing a business in the Dubai Mainland is a game-changer, but having the right location can make a significant difference. The commercial stock in Dubai is located in areas such as Business Bay, Downtown Dubai, and Sheikh Zayed Road. If you would like to start a new company in Dubai, then mainland is the better option.

Firstly, there is no restriction on the scope of its business in case of commercial and professional licenses. Thanks to the new laws, having an Emirati local sponsor is no longer a requirement for company establishment in Dubai. So, it is valuable for new entrepreneurs as they don’t have to worry for arranging a sponsorship.

Mainland company in Dubai is an onshore company that can carry out its business activities in the local market. Moreover, it covers the whole of Dubai, other areas of United Arab Emirates, and even valid outside the UAE. Mainland companies deliver certain rewards to entrepreneurs over free zones.

In this guide, we’ll take a look at the best mainland places to do business. We hope that by the end of this, you’ll be able to choose a location whether you’re a startup/consultancy, or investment firm. Without further ado, let’s jump into the blog.

Key takeaways of conducting business in Dubai mainland

Here are the notable insights with statistics about doing business in Dubai mainland.

• Foreign entrepreneurs taking interest in the UAE can apply for investment visas for up to 3 years.
• Expatriate investors can sponsor the family, household workers, and staff members for the UAE residency as well.
• Over the past 30 years, Dubai has grown from a small trading town into a major global business center.
• Dubai’s strong business appeal is evident from the opening of over 30,000 new businesses during early 2023.
• Business licenses in Dubai went up by 39% in comparison to March 2023 in March 2024.
• Popular types of the business licenses in Dubai mainland are commercial license, professional license, industrial license, and tourism license.
• To launch a Dubai mainland company, you need to have an office space, that is at least 200 square feet.
• Some of the busiest corporate places in Dubai mainland are Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, Deira, Al Quoz, and Jumeirah.
• Nowadays, foreigners can fully own their businesses in Dubai mainland without needing a local partner.
• However, some important sectors like oil/gas still require local nominee shareholders in the UAE mainland.
• DIFC, Downtown, and Business Bay achieved 95–97% occupancy in 2024, indicating a strong demand for client-facing firms. (Savills, 2024)
• Dubai ranked 8th globally for prime office occupancy costs, with office rents increasing by 22% year-over-year in 2024. (Savills; Cushman & Wakefield, 2025)
• DXB handled a record 92.3 million passengers in 2024, strengthening its headquarters and consultancy appeal along SZR/Business Bay. (Dubai Airports, 2025)
• Dubai welcomed 18.72M international visitors in 2024, benefiting retail, F&B, clinics, and tourism operators in Jumeirah, Bur Dubai, and Deira. (DET Annual Visitor Report, 2024)
• 70,500 new companies joined the Dubai Chamber in 2024, increasing the total number of members to 258k+. (Dubai Chamber, 2025)

Top locations to setup company in mainland Dubai

Here are some of the leading places for beginning a new business in Dubai mainland.

• Downtown Dubai
• Business Bay
• Jumeirah
• Sheikh Zayed Road
• Deira
• Al Quoz
• Midrif
• Al Barsha
• Bur Dubai
• Al Qusais
• Oud Metha
• Al Karama
• Satwa
• Al Garhoud
• Umm Ramool
• Al Nahda

Now, we take a look on these leading commercial destinations to incorporate a company in mainland Dubai.

Downtown Dubai

It is an excellent place to commence a business in Dubai mainland, and make it stand out. Downtown Dubai provides an inclusive business environment at a prime central corporate location. Its accessibility through major transport routes turns Downtown Dubai appropriate for property management firms, luxury brands, and finance businesses.

Business Bay

This area in the center of the city of Dubai has many fancy office buildings. Business Bay is an excellent place for establishing banks, shops, hotels, and other high-end companies. Because, it has accessible road connectivity and infrastructure, many businesses like to set up here.

Business Bay is a prestigious district close to Downtown Dubai and the Dubai Canal. It has high-rise offices, co-working space and views of the skyline to die for. Business Bay is perfect for startups, consultancies, real estate businesses and international companies. This location offers your business a prestigious corporate and global address, providing a competitive advantage.

Jumeirah

Its location on the Dubai beach makes Jumeirah an ideal place for both residential and commercial purposes. Jumeirah has big VIP houses, nice posh shops, premium hotels, and top-level vacation rental destinations. It is a great place for real estate businesses, luxury stores, restaurants, travel companies, and yachting firms.

Sheikh Zayed Road

It is a famous boulevard packed with business and commercial traffic during the working day, especially at peak hours. Sheikh Zayed Road is where businesses build a good reputation, and it is equally convenient for clients and investors. This prime location offers high exposure, due to the accessibility through metro, Dubai Mall, and main roads.

Deira

As one of the oldest business areas in Dubai, Deira is famous for its busy markets like the Gold Souk. Also, it is well known for its trading outlets, wholesale markets and pocket-friendly office spaces. Therefore, electronics trading companies, tourism firms, rental businesses, and consumer shops like to open here.

Deira is a good place for saving money on commercial rent, while easily reaching many local and foreign customers. Particularly, it is popular with traders, logistics firms, textile companies and import/export businesses. Its closeness to Dubai Creek, ports, and jewellery markets make it an ideal location for traditional and small-to-medium enterprises.

Al Quoz

It is a busy industrial area in Dubai where you find lots of factories, warehouses, and workshops. Together with industries, Al Quoz is suitable for other kinds of businesses too. It is a good spot for companies that need production and storage spaces to make and move their products.

Al Quoz is one of Dubai’s most strategically located business and industrial districts. It blends commercial and industrial properties, such as warehouses, factories, showrooms, and offices, with numerous creative studios. This space is ideal for manufacturing companies, auto services, e-commerce storage/distribution units and art-based businesses.

Midrif

It is a very well known family-friendly community in Dubai. Midriff is gaining popularity with the boutique businesses, clinics, salons, cafes, and various service providers. It is accessible through major highways of Dubai, and delivers a quieter environment within easy reach of Sharjah.

Al Barsha

Located along one of Dubai’s major roadways, Al Barsha is accessible from Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Khail Road. The area hosts a mix of locals and expats who take interest in businesses that cater to a diverse crowd. It is great to open a clinic, school, retail shop, salon, or professional service office.

Bur Dubai

Arguably, it serves as the historical and commercial center of Dubai. Bur Dubai is ideal for tourism businesses, law firms, tailors, textile industry, and travel services. Providing convenient access to courts, embassies, and consulates; it offers affordable office spaces.

Al Qusais

As the perfect and adaptable industrial zone, Al Qusais combines luxury, commercial, and industrial spaces. It has good access to the Sheik Mohammed Bin Zayed Road and Sharjah. It is great for logistics, auto workshops, manufacturers, and other businesses that require more space at a lower rent.

Oud Metha

It is close to healthcare facilities, as well as embassies and government offices. Oud Metha is fully accessible and is corporate ready too. It is a favorite among clinics, law firms, consultancies, and professional services businesses.

Al Karama

It is famous for its high traffic and thriving commercial avenues. Al Karama is a perfect location for a small business, retail shop, or office serving commercial purposes. Its low rent price and a large residential population ensure that it remains a trading and customer-based area hotspot.

Satwa

It is one of the most wallet-friendly commercial areas in Dubai. Satwa is ideal for trading houses, tailors, workshops, and small service providers. Low start-up costs have made it a go-to destination for entrepreneurs as well as more traditional businesses.

Al Garhoud

It has close proximity to the main highways and airport terminals of Dubai. As a result, Al Garhoud is ideal for companies requiring regular international access. It is a prime location for companies such as logistics, airline services, travel companies, and office-based businesses.

Umm Ramool

Situated in Deira in eastern Dubai, the community of Umm Ramool serves both residential and commercial purposes. It is a business and industrial district situated near the Dubai International Airport and major logistics routes. Umm Ramool is perfect for warehouses, automobile workshops, logistics companies and businesses operating with remote access to cargo and airport facilities.

Al Nahda

It is directly situated in the vicinity of the Dubai-Sharjah border. Al Nahda offers a low-cost option for office premises suitable for the start-ups, clinics, training institutes, and service-oriented businesses. It enables the ease of living and the opportunity to earn, especially for SMEs.

Process to register license for business in Dubai mainland

This is the step-by-step procedure for registering a license for new business in Dubai mainland.

• Choose business activity
• Find ideal location
• Decide corporate structure
• Pick company name
• Reserve trade name
• Get initial approval
• Secure office space
• Prepare legal documents and pay fee
• Receive business license
• Apply for establishment card and bank account
• Arrange the UAE visas and start operations

Next, we briefly look upon these steps of license registration for a new company in mainland Dubai.

Choose business activity

Before starting a company in the UAE mainland, the first thing you need to decide is what kind of business you want to run. Pick the business you want to operate: commercial, industrial, professional or tech. Also, consider the requirements of conducting a business.

The Department of Economic Development (DED) has a huge list of more than 2,000 business activities you can choose from, like trading, farming, hospitality, or manufacturing. In mainland areas, you have more freedom because you’re allowed to do almost any activity on that list, unlike free zones where some types of work may be limited based on the location.

Find ideal location

Once you have chosen the business you want to operate, the next step is to select where you want to set it up. If you set up your business on the UAE mainland, you’re free to choose nearly any location without major restrictions. The best place for your business depends on your budget and what your company does.

Choose the right mainland location e.g., Business Bay, Al Quoz, or DSO) according to your target market. For example, if your work involves shipping goods in or out of the country, it’s smart to be near one of the busy ports like Jebel Ali, Mina Zayed, or Mina Khalid. Another excellent thing about setting up on the mainland is that you can easily open more branches. So, your business doesn’t have to stay in one spot. It can grow and reach more customers across the UAE.

Decide corporate structure

Select the right type of company (LLC, Sole Proprietorship, Corporation or Branch Office). Your legal structure can affect ownership, liability and paperwork. If you’re a foreign business owner and want to start a firm in the Dubai mainland, there are a few ways to do it.

The most popular type is called a Limited Liability Company (LLC). An LLC is a business owned by two or more people, and it’s treated like its own legal body. If you want to do trading, manufacturing, or other industrial work, you’ll need to set up an LLC.

That means you’ll need a local sponsor. But if you’re offering professional services (like consulting or design), you don’t need a local sponsor. In fact, you can own the business fully on your own.

Pick company name

Choosing the right name for your Dubai mainland company is important, and keeps your business on track. It helps your business to look professional, makes people remember you, and understand what your business is all about. In the UAE, there are a few simple rules to follow when choosing and registering your company and trade name.

• Make sure your name follows all the rules set by the government.
• If you want to use your own name for the business, you must use your full name, not just your nickname.
• Don’t use words that are rude or might hurt someone’s feelings.
• If your business name is in a language other than Arabic, it should sound the same when written in Arabic (don’t change the meaning).

Reserve trade name

Run your desired company name past the Department of Economic Development (DED) in Abu Dhabi. The name should comply with the UAE naming requirements and accurately describe your business activity.

Get initial approval

Apply for government approval to continue the business incorporation process. It endorses that the local authorities of the UAE do not object to your company’s setup.

Secure office space

Lease an office, retail space or warehouse in the area you have selected. Get the contract signed and registered under the Ejari system to make it legally valid and compliant.

Prepare legal documents and pay fee

Draft the Memorandum of Association (MoA) that details the ownership and profit-sharing arrangements. Professional firms may require a Local Service Agent (LSA) agreement instead; both must be notarized. Submit all required documents to DET, including Ejari, MoA, trade name and shareholder details. Pay the relevant government and licensing fees to proceed to the final stage.

• Passport copies of the company’s owners and directors
• Business plan
• NOC from DED
• Memorandum of Association (MOA)
• A proof of your business address (like a utility bill)
• Rent/lease agreement with tenant

Receive business license

Once approved, you will receive your Dubai Mainland trade license. This document legally authorizes your company to operate and conduct business in the UAE.

Apply for establishment card and bank account

File for a company establishment card from the Ministry of Labor to enable visa processing. Open a corporate bank account in a UAE bank to carry out financial transactions. It helps you handle your finances and keep your business operations on the right track. When picking a bank, look for one that makes it easy to use, has good online services, friendly customer help, and other features that match your business needs.

Arrange the UAE visas and start operations

Once your Dubai mainland business is set up, you can start applying for visas for yourself, your workers, and your family. The number of visas you can get usually depends on the size of your office or warehouse. A good rule to remember is that for every visa, you need about 100 square feet of space.

Apply for investor, partner, and employee visas under your company’s name. Once, the UAE visas issuance and banking account registration are complete. Then, you can officially begin the business operations.

Main benefits of forming business in Dubai mainland

These advantages of forming business in Dubai mainland make it a preferable choice for entrepreneurs and new company owners.

• Mainland businesses can trade with other mainland companies in Dubai or the UAE.
• There is no minimum capital requirement for the formation of mainland companies.
• Mainland firms have the flexibility to do their business in any part of the UAE or beyond. This feature sets them apart from free zones companies, because latter companies are bound to operate their business in their respective free zone.
• Also, mainland companies have more options for business activities unlike free zone businesses. For example, companies in Dubai Media City must work in the media or closely related industries. However, there is no such limitation for mainland business and it can open up to wider UAE economy with much scope of diversity.
• Mainland establishments can choose their office location anywhere in Dubai. This feature allows them not only to trade within the local market. Also, they can open up multiple branches of the company thus enabling them to build a strong presence in UAE.
• There is no currency restriction on a mainland business in Dubai.
• Mainland entities can take on governmental work unlike free zone companies. The latter are prohibited from undertaking government contracts and are only allowed to carry out private commercial work.
• There is no limitation on the number of visas on mainland license. Nevertheless, the eligibility to obtain visas depends upon office space. The more office space you have, the more number of visas you may get.
• 100% repatriation of capital and profits are admissible for mainland enterprises.
• Registration process for mainland companies is simple and hassle free.
• Also, there is no yearly audit requirement for mainland businesses.

3 Reasons to shift your company setup to Dubai mainland

These are some motives behind shifting company setup to Dubai mainland from a free zone.

• Necessity for growth
• Enabling and promoting diversification
• Access to lucrative government contracts

Next, we look at three reasons for how you can venture into the profoundly profitable realm of Dubai mainland.

Necessity for growth

After spending some time in a free zone, your company may be in a position for expansion. One of the biggest pulls of the UAE is its stable, diverse, and dynamic economy. Free trade zones are ably stationed in the country so that it can tap into this wealth easily. However, there comes a time where one invariably finds their growth potential limited by clear-cut rules on staffing, offices, and interaction with the Dubai mainland.

Inherently, the free zone licenses confine enterprises to a designated zone, and they can not do direct business with the Dubai mainland. If your free zone company is going to evolve into a mainland company formation in Dubai, then first, you have to start trading with the mainland UAE entities. To do that, you have to pay customs duty via local agents who will charge you for their services.

If that all seems a bit complicated for you, then you can simply open a mainland branch of your free zone company by registering with Dubai’s Department of Economic Development (DED). Having said all that, now is a good time as any to consider the switch. The UAE Ministry of Economy has just announced that the restriction on foreign investors from owning more than forty-nine percent of onshore companies in the UAE has been partially lifted.

The divergence from such a long-standing principle in the UAE law signifies a strategic move to support the future growth of the country through foreign investment. The change in the general perception that this brings counts for a lot. Because, it is a move to the Dubai mainland is a powerful statement of intent that your business partners, your clients, and your distributors and suppliers will buy into.

Enabling and promoting diversification

For your free zone company, growth might translate into diversifying into new services, products, or sectors. For mainland companies, doing so is an easy administrative decision. But In a free zone, this small thing needs more work.

Free zone authorities in charge of issuing business licenses and permits tend to write everything in detail so that the entrepreneurs don’t step out of line. Typically one named industry per license is allowed. If you wish to broaden your horizons by migrating into a new vertical, you need zone sign-off – a law with strict and inflexible requirements that are regularly denied to applying businesses.

If you want to indulge in Employee diversification oftentimes, you are not permitted to do that. For example, Dubai’s Media City Free Zone only accepts companies that work in the media and media only. It’s the same in Dubai Healthcare City (healthcare). If your diversification plans don’t reflect your chosen free zone, a negative response is to be expected.

Access to lucrative government contracts

Gaining the favors of the government anywhere in the world is a huge advantage for business owners. Similarly, in the UAE, if the government bestows its tender to you, it means that you are a respectable and trustworthy business entity. Not to mention are exceedingly profitable if you manage to snag one of these coveted tenders.

The UAE government spent a total of over 4 billion AED on upgrading infrastructure and nearly spent 1.2 billion AED on education. And the value of ongoing UAE construction projects is estimated to be a staggering 3 trillion AED. This all means that there is a windfall happening in the Dubai mainland, and you are missing out by staying in the free zone i.e., the proverbial sidelines.

Similarly, the governmental expenditure in Dubai is sky-rocketing with fresh requirements for construction and development. With the UAE perpetually and relentlessly evolving, getting a piece of that transition is life-altering. The problem is that free zone companies cannot apply for the bidding. Only mainland company setup can bid for government jobs and tenders.

Once again, the only foolproof way for a free zone business to expand is to turn to the Mainland and re-register. Once the company set up in Dubai mainland is complete, and a license is obtained, can you proceed and diversify. On the flip side, there’s no longer a third party– regulatory authority– deciding the fate of your business.

Dubai mainland as destination for company formation

Around the world, Dubai has become one of the most attractive destinations for tourists and businessmen alike. Dubai resides on a geographical strategic location that combines East and West with a market of over 2.2 billion consumers. Its plus points are government’s business setup friendly policies, infrastructural facilities, and a diverse pool of skillful human resources.

Department of Economic Development (DED) is responsible for business setup in Dubai inside the mainland. Therefore, it oversees company registration, business licensing, commercial compliance, and consumer protection in Dubai. DED encourages and eases the process of new business formation in the mainland.

Importance of Dubai mainland for free zone businesses

Easy company formation, hundred percent foreign ownership, zero percent taxes, and other such excellent perks are proven to draw hordes of seasoned business owners and budding entrepreneurs to the shores of the UAE free zones. Why, then, do so many investors each year swap the safety of a free trade zone for the uncertainty on the Dubai mainland?

Put simply; this is a logical progression of a successful business. Right off the bat, setting up a business in one of the UAE’s forty-five free trade zones is prudent. Over thirty thousand companies are currently trading from the three most prolific UAE free zones alone.

Rising entrepreneurs can start their company in a free zone and hop on the fast-track via pre-packed licenses, employee visas, and corporate bank accounts. This paradigm works well for those who want to test the climate. However, as hardened veterans may attest, a time comes when expanding your business is the only logical progression, and that demands a DED license and relocating to the mainland.

Free zone companies are ideal starting points for UAE business. These economic zones offer a chance for new entrepreneurs to establish their enterprises in an opportunity rode business landscape. Accordingly, they can get the knack of doing business there.

But, the diversification – vital for continuing growth and expansion of your business has restriction here. These bottlenecks are what makes the businesses that have initially found success in the free zones. After-all, they wish to further capitalize and invest in that promising start.

If you observe the aforementioned paragraphs, we can see a common theme emerging. The freshly-arrived entrepreneurs have found their bearings of the UAE business in the free zones already. So, they are ready to strike into new horizons armed with the knowledge that you acquired through your initial success there. With the right guidance from company formation specialists, relocating from a free zone to Dubai mainland is a smooth and manageable move.

No need of local sponsors for mainland Dubai business

Nowadays, foreign investors can hold 100% ownership of the mainland companies. Nonetheless, local sponsors can prove advantageous in another way. You can use them as business activity partners and financial backers.

Once, appointing a UAE national as a local sponsor was a pre-requisite for the formation of mainland company in Dubai. In turn, the general shareholding pattern of a Dubai mainland company was UAE national sponsor [51%] and foreign shareholder(s) [49%]. It was different from the free zones, where full ownership rights were available to the expat investors.

For profit sharing between local sponsor and foreign investor, mainland business in Dubai offer a flexible legal arrangement. A sponsor can be paid a fixed annual fee, percentage of sales or percentage of profits. Among these, fixed annual fees is most popular, as it allows foreign investor to retain 100% control of his business. Local sponsor or sleeping partner will not have involvement in business activities or profit sharing.

KWS ME powers your Dubai mainland business journey

A robust network of business advisors, legal consultants, and industry professionals is always better. KWS Middle East not only assists you in setting up your business in the UAE. Also, it provides services for PRO, corporate banking, VAT, and ongoing compliance throughout the UAE.

Establishing your business in mainland Dubai offers unparalleled freedom, market reach and access to growth. Business Bay and Sheik Zayed Road are among the high-profile business clusters. While, industrial areas such as Al Quoz and DIP offer no-frills benefits to suit your budget.

Your entrepreneurial journey in mainland Dubai begins here. KWS ME helps you select a suitable location and corporate legal structure, to obtain approvals, visas and establish company bank accounts. It is well known for its high quality services for business setup and corporate consulting in the UAE.

Let experts at KWS Middle East handle the paperwork, approvals, and licensing; while you focus on growing your vision. They make it a constant companion for successfully achieving the business sustainability in the country.

Get a free consultation about mainland company formation in Dubai in the most professional way. Contact one of our experts to get set go. For connecting with KWS Middle East, call us at +97180059763, email us at info@kwsme.com, or WhatsApp us at +971509664705 now.

Conclusion

These above factors have made a crucial role in making Dubai a dynamic business hub. Business consultants facilitate entrepreneurs in the formation of their mainland businesses in Dubai. Furthermore, they help them to find a local sponsor, appropriate business premises, financial assistance, or handling legal documentation formalities.

Free zones are fantastic places to get your feet wet and get to know the business landscape of the UAE and offer a proven and safe path towards establishing a business in the UAE. They are by nature, however, limited in how they can expand and capitalize on initial success within this magnetic, kinetic economy. Life beyond the free zone is full of freedom and opportunity (both investment and business).

Make your transition from a free zone enterprise to a mainland company formation Dubai easy as a pie. The usual course of action is hiring of company formation specialists that can handle the nitty-gritty of the incorporation mechanism. So that you can focus on growing your business in the UAE and globally. KWS Middle East assists you in incorporation of your company from start till end in the and hassle free manner.

FAQs about opening business in Dubai mainland

These are the answers to common questions about incorporating a business in Dubai mainland.

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